“I’m glad to announce SUSE Linux 10.1 Codename ‘Agama Lizard’ RC3. We have fixed the majority of bugs from RC3 and look forward to the goldmaster – if testing does not show serious problems.” Okay, I will try not to mention the lack or release information this time.
I recently tried SuSE for the first time about a two weeks ago (10.0), and I have eagerly been awaiting the 10.1 release. Obviously I am not a SuSE “expert”, but I am wondering if a few of you could answer some questions?
Firstly, this seems to be a pretty conservative release (at least when compared to FC5 and Ubuntu Dapper) due to the following: GNOME 2.12, KDE 3.5.1, no XGL installed, etc. What are the major changes to be expected? With the added RC and a delayed release date, I am sure that some big changes have hindered their development process.
Could somebody explain the “factory” release? It seems like factory is similar to Debain Sid (or Etch for that matter), in that newer versions of programs get placed here for testing. However, do these newer versions of software move into the current release, or do you have to wait for the next release? For example, will 10.1 eventually get GNOME 2.14, or will it wait until 10.2?
Thanks for your input,
Patrick
To answer questions as best as I can:
1.) If your a KDE user it is a very dramatic upgrade. I can’t vouch for Gnome. I think XGL is supposed to be included in this release. Suse tends to release at least a point release every six months, but since the start of the opensuse project it has been more frequent. I think it is probably comparable to Ubuntu given the release cycle. Fedora has, what, a 9 months to a year release cycle.
2.) Factory is what used to be the boxed retail version. They offer it on a evaluation but as far as I know they don’t enforce the evaluation.
I can say I have dabbled in all of the distros, excluding Gentoo and Slackware, and have found it to my liking. I am currently using opensuse 10.0 and looking forward to 10.1. This is just info off the top of my head. Hope this helps.
[quote=gary1979][/quote]Could somebody explain the “factory” release?
As far as i know the factory release is continuously evolving and inluding new versions like Fedora is towards RHEL.
Gnome 2.12 and KDE 3.5.1 will be included in SuSE 10.1 retail and Apparmor full ((instead of lite :-)).
Nothing really dramatically has been changed,but if you want to be more current 10.1 is a nice one.I’m considering an update because of the full version of AppArmor so i can restrict iptables and other apps currently unavaible in the lite version.
netphython gets it pretty much correct about the “factory” tree….it includes just about all of the software, especially the stuff NOT found on the CD’s…but it’s all OSS stuff. The “extra” stuff is on a separate media (Adobe reader, Real Player, Java…etc.)
The “Factory” tree continues to evolve and is dynamic. When 10.1 is released, the “factory” tree will be frozen and become the main installation source for the distro over the ftp’s.
Then, the “Factory” tree will be current for the next developement version…so the “factory” tree is NEVER to be used as a source for a stable version….
10.1 is not a dramtic jump from 10.0, but there are significant changes in the software update/management system…and that’s why the delays. The base system has been running well for quite some time….the final bugs are now being knocked out of the install/update/management system for the Gold Master to be released shortly.
In my estimation, it will be a good release.
Fedora has, what, a 9 months to a year release cycle.
Fedora has a 6 month release cycle. FC5 is the exception because it tooks 9 months.
The Suse Factory is not similar to Fedora. Its similar to Rawhide which is Fedoras development branch.
> Fedora has a 6 month release cycle.
There’s only one Fedora release (FC3) that actually managed to appear 6 months or less after the previous release. The last 2 Fedora releases have actually been 7 and 9 months apart respectively. FC6 is the first version since FC3 that’s currently scheduled to follow their 6 month release cycle policy (but that may slip).
What I think FC6 needs is the “bling” 3D desktop goodies (AIGLX or whatever) stabilised on all major graphics cards (ATI, Nvidia and Intel) so that they have a solid release just before Vista appears. Show Joe Sixpack the eye candy on that 3D desktop via a live CD or DVD on their *current* PC and they might just drool enough consider switching (which in many cases seems to involve some hardware upgrade to run Vista).
Until most major OEMs pre-install Linux (which doesn’t look to be happening real soon now), pointless eye candy might indeed be one of the potent weapons to persuade the general public to switch.
Was in the previous SUSE 10.1 betas so it will be in final but not by default. It’s easy to setup, just install xgl/compiz and set XGL to be used in YaST instead of X.
Will yast upgrade the distro to 10.1 once it’s released?
Its possible to do that by adding/replacing the installtion source & setting it to a SuSE 10.1 server directory .
I tried this on a running system but not advisable.
Best IMO to burn the 10.1 image to DVD & choose the upgrade option or even better reinstall completly (unfortunatly) .
Certainly my experience .. or of course you could always use the online installer image . –
That’s been my experience with all RPM based distributions. Upgrading just doesn’t work that well. Debian based distributions are usually much better. In fact for those who used to remember Storm Linux, I used to use that to install, then I’d upgrade to Debian Sid. At the time, the Debian installer still sucked and was a pain to use, but Storm Linux had a great installer. Unfortunately Storm isn’t around anymore, but then there are always new distributions.
Leech
They need a few upgrade paths…
$100 migrates Windows files to SuSE 10.1
$50 migrates SuSE <10.1 to SuSE 10.1
$20 SuSE 10.1 full retail installation (non-upgrade)
They are always trying to make money by selling it for $X. I’m not paying $X for something I can download for free. But I’d be willing to pay $20 for new disks each time they make a new version like this.